An artist's rendition of the 'A New Dawn' memorial at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn. / Oakwood Healthcare

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Detroit Free Press Medical Writer

Ellen Sullivan

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After three years of planning, a memorial to organ donors will soon be under way at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn.

“A New Dawn” memorial will feature glass doves housed in lighted glass panels framed by wood — symbolizing the spirituality of donors and the gift they gave so that others may live, said Roseville artist Tony Bellomo.

“It’s honoring (the donors), it’s honoring the families, and it’s honoring the gift,” said Bellomo, who met with families, donor advocates, health care providers and others for input.

“When you start talking about spirituality, it’s intensely personal,” Bellomo said. “Everyone has a unique perspective of what donation means.”

Earlier this year, Hurley Medical Center in Flint unveiled a memorial wall to donors, and the Oakwood project will be the only other memorial in the state, said Betsy Miner-Swartz, spokeswoman for Gift of Life Michigan.

For loved ones, memorials to donors offer a quiet place to reflect on loss and life and to be proud of the gift made in death, said Patty Jo Herndon, who visited the National Donor Memorial in Richmond, Va., last month to be honored with the National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence for her efforts to promote donation.

Her sister, Ellen Sullivan, 39, died of a brain aneurysm in 1997. A retired insurance claims manager, Herndon spends her hours raising awareness about the need for donations as president of Michigan Donor Family Council.

Just as important for families of past donors, memorials trigger conversations among hospital visitors and others about future donations — discussions that could save lives, Herndon said.

“Whenever you walk into the hospital and you see something like that, you can’t help but look and wonder what it is,” Herndon said. “That starts a conversation.”

For information on the Oakwood memorial or to donate, call the Oakwood Foundation at 313-586-5234.